x, 480 pages ; 25 cm

In this book, Magee tells the story of his own discovery of philosophy and not only makes it come alive but shows its relevance to daily life. Magee is the Carl Sagan of philosophy, the great popularizer of the subject, and author of a major new introductory history, The Story of Philosophy. This book follows the course of Magee's life, exploring philosophers and ideas as he himself encountered them, introducing all the great figures and their ideas, from the pre-Socratics to Bertrand Russell and Karl Popper, including Wittgenstein, Kant, Nietzsche, and Schopenhauer, rationalism, utilitarianism, empiricism, and existentialism.--From publisher description

"This work was originally published in Great Britain by Weidenfeld & Nicolson ... in 1997"--Title page verso

Scenes from childhood -- My introduction to academic philosophy -- Logical positivism and its refutation -- Linguistic analysis -- The inadequacy of linquistic philosophy -- The problem of perception -- What can be shown but not said -- A Yale education -- The discovery of Kant -- Professional versus amateur philosophy -- Getting to know Popper -- Getting to know Russell -- First attempts at a political philosophy -- The search for meaning -- Mid-life crisis -- A philosophical novel -- Groves of academe -- In praise of popularization -- The limits of philosophy -- The discovery of Schopenhauer -- The philosophy of Schopenhauer -- Philosophy on television -- The main split in contemporary philosophy -- Left wondering

Includes bibliographical references and index

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